Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna’s offices were attacked with stones and ink on Tuesday after it published a cartoon apparently mocking the protests held by the Maratha community for reservation quotas, Hindustan Times reported. Police officials said between two and three windows at the daily’s office in Navi Mumbai were broken after unknown persons threw stones. A separate group threw ink at the door of the paper’s bureau in Thane. Police said they had increased security around Saamna’s offices.
The cartoon shows a man kissing a woman, who is holding a placard saying “Mooka Morcha” (kiss protest), according to The Times of India. The daily said the phrase was a pun on “Mook Morcha” (silent protests), the type of demonstrations being held by the Maratha community. The caricature was criticised by political parties, with Maharashtra Congress legislator Sanjay Dutt saying Saamna needed to issue a “public apology”. The paper later issued one, saying it did not intend to hurt the community’s sentiments.
Thousands of Marathas have been holding demonstrations and silent rallies across Maharashtra. They have demanded a 16% quota as well as amendments to The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Their protests have also been aimed at the gangrape and murder case of a 14-year-old in Ahmednagar district’s Kopardi village. Marathas have demanded the accused be sentenced to death. State Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said his government is committed to fulfilling the community’s quota demand.
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